Switch box



Jan. 25 1927. 1,615,817

" H. K. KRANTZ SWITCH BOX I Filed Sept. 1920 WITNESSES. I INVENTOR Patented Jan. 25, 19 27.

HUBER! K. K BANTZ, OF BROOKLYN, NEW

TBIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY,

YORK, ASSIGNOB '10 WESTINGHOUSE ELEC- A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SWITCH BOX.

Application filed September a, 1920. Serial in). 408,849.

My invention-relates to switch boxes and particularly to metallic boxes such as are used for enclosing entrance switches commonly employed in lighting and power circuits.

An object of this invention is to prov de a simple, inexpensive box construction wherein the various elements thereof may be stamped from sheet-metal by means of sunple punching operations and may be assembled with a minimum of labor.

Another object is to provide a box having the above characteristics wherein a shield for covering the live terminals within the box maybe supported and retained in position by integral elements, constituting the side walls and the cover for the box.

A further object is to provide a box for the purpose above indicated wherein the hinged joint for the cover is formed of a part of the integral marginal flange of the cover which is pivoted to a stationary part of the box. A further object is to provide a box construction that is simple, durable and incx nsive to manufacture.

T hese and other objects that will be made v apparent throughout the. further description of the apparatus are attained in the box construction herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an isometric perspective view of the box construction made in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the box illustrated in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings,,the box includes a bottom member 3 having 11 -turned integral side members 5 and end anges 4.

End members 6 and 7 are placed adjacent to the extremities ofthe side sectionsand are retained between the said extremities and the up-turned flanges 4. The extremities of the side-wall members 5 are provided with integral inwardly-turned webs 8 to which the end plates are secured by means of' tongues 9 that are struck up from the webs 8 and pro'ect through perforations provided in'the en plates. The ends of the tongues are upset or riveted so as to prevent separation of the end-wall members from the side-wall members.

The upper ends of the flanges 8 are bent inwardly, forming seats 10 adjacent the edges of the side and end walls, upon which an insulating shield or diaphragm 11 is mounted for the purpose of preventing access to the live fuse and .switch elements which are located beneath the diaphragm. This diaphragm is provided with perforations 12 and 13, through which the fuse elements 14 and the switch-operating shaft 15 respectively project. The fuse elements are of the screw-plug type and the switch shaft is provided with an operating button or handle 16. The fuse plu s and rotary snap switch 15 are indicated in Fig. 2 but form 'no part of my invention.

The box is provided with a detachable cover 17 thatv is provided with marginal flanges 18 and 19 wh ch overlap the upper edges of the side walls 5 and the end wall 7. respectively. The flanges 18 terminate a short distance from the end 20 of the cover 17 and are provided with inwardly-directed integral webs 21 that project through notches 22- provided in the upper edges of the sidewall member 5. and into engagement with the outer face of the diaphragm 11. The cover 17 is retained in place by means of screws 23 that extend, through the cover, into webs 24 which are integral with the side wall members 5. It will be seen from the foregoing that, when the cover 17 is secured to the box, the diaphragm 11 is held in place there-by.

- A movable cover 25 is provided having integral marginal flanges 26 and 27 that overlap the side walls 5 and the end wall 6, respectively. The flanges 26 are extended beyond the end 28 of the cover and are bent outwardly so as to overlap the adjacent ends of the flanges 18. The end 28 of the I cover 25 overlaps the end 20 of the cover 17 which is offset inwardly so as to clear the cover end 28. Pivot pins '29 extend through the flanges 18 and 26 and so pivotally conrect the cover portions that the cover 25 anay be turned about the pivots 29 to open and to closed position. The movable cover 25 is provided with an elongated opening 30 through which the oblong switch handle 31 projects when the cover is in closed position. \Vhen the switch is in closed position, the major axis of the switch handle is disposed at right angles to the major axis of the opening 30 and, therefore, the handle prevents opening movement of the so long as the switch remc c ion. llhe end 28 of the cc rid ed with an extension 3:2 that projects the opening 30 and serves to close if when the cover is in closed po ion. extension is provided with a perloration through which the operating stem or" the. switch projects.

The cover 25. is also provided with an inwardly directed integral extension 3% that projects through a slot. 35 in the cover 17 when the. cover is in closed position. When the cover is in the open position, indicated in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 2, the extension 34 occupies a position in the orbit of rotation of the switch handle and prevents closing of the switch so long as the cover is open. i

In construction, the various elements constituting the box may be stamped from sheet-metal by simple punching operations and the parts may be assembled with a minimum amount of labor. The construction is compact, neat in appearance and inexpensive to manufacture.

While I have illustrated and described but one embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions, additions and omissions may be made in the apparatus illustrated without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A switch box comprising a box" having bottom and side-wall members, a protecting diaphragm,supports for the diaphragm, and a cover for the box having a portion thereof extending into engagement with the diaphragm for preventing displacement thereof.

2. A switch box comprising a box having bottom and side-wall members, a protecting diaphragm, supports integral with the side-wall members for supporting the diaphragm, and a cover for the box having marginal flanges overlapping the side-wall members and provided with integral webs extending into the box and into engagement with the diaphragm for preventing displacement thereof.

3. The combination with a switch box and a rotary switch having a rotary oblong handle, of a hinged door for the box having an oblong opening registering with the handle when the switch is in open position and having its major axis substantially transverse to the major axis of the handle whereby opening movement of the cover is prevented by engagement thereof with. the handle when the switch is closed, and a stationary cover for completing closure of the housing and having a portion extending stationaryclosure being provided with an GXDEDSiOD for closing the siot when the door is in closed position, a switch within the housing, an oblong handle for the switch projecting through the slot and the extension and adapted to engage the cover to prevent opening movement thereof when the switch is in closed position and to permit opening movement of the cover when the switch is in open position.

5. A switch mechanism comprising a housing, a movable cover for the housing having an opening therein, a switch within the housing having a handle portion projecting exteriorly of the housing through the said opening, and means on the cover for engaging the said handle portion to prevent closing movement of the switch so long as the cover is in open position.

6. A fuse box having bottom and sidewall members, a protecting diaphragm having a perforation through which a fuse member projects, supports for the diaphragm, and acover for the box for closing access to the fuse member, having a portion thereof extending into engagement with the diaphragm for preventing displacement thereof.

7. Switch mechanism comprising a box having bottom and side-wall members, a fuse member, a switch member, aprotecting diaphragmhaving perforations through which the fuse member and the switch members project, and a cover for the box for closing access to the fuse member, having a portion thereof extending into engagement with the diaphragm for ment thereof.

8. A switch mechanism comprising a housing, a movable cover for the housing, a switch within the housing having a handle portion projecting exteriorly of and means on the inner side of the cover an normally extending into the housing and for engaging the exteriorly-extending portion of the handle to prevent closing movement of the switch so long as the cover is in open position.

In testimony whereof, I. have hereunto subscribed my name this 26th day of August, 1920.

HUBERT K; KRANTZ.

preventing displacethe housing 

